Bahrain: What's really going on?

Despite assurances over the desert kingdom's safety for this weekend's grand prix, there are still fears. Dieter Rencken tries to get to the bottom of what's happening

Seldom, if ever, in Formula 1's 61-year history has the 'sport' spewed so much verbiage out of both sides of its collective mouth at quite the same rate and volume as over the Bahrain matter.

On the one hand, motorsport's controlling body, charged with safety and security of sanctioned events, declares itself satisfied with assurances given by the desert island's authorities, stating: "Based on the current information the FIA has at this stage [last Friday], it is satisfied that all the proper security measures are in place for the running of a Formula One World Championship event in Bahrain [this weekend]."